Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-22

am sure she would In fact-John, L
will promise you that she shall.
Glow can | thank you?" said John
Westbrook, with simple fervor and,
in his gratitude, he raised the plump
white hand to his lips. 1t was the hand
of one of the kiudest creatures in the
world, though little eccentric, and
somewhat uncomfortably enamored OF
cats and parrots; it was the hand OF
his Lucy's guardian and benefactress.
"Then l may write ?" he asked.
"And as / will not do so until | am in
a more assured position, ] may hope
soon after, dear Miss Morton ?"
"You may write" Miss Lucilla said
softly "and will look for the letter
/ shall know the post-msrk. "
II.
THE LETTER.
The roses in Miss Lucilla's garden
were in bloom again and, coming up
the path one morning, the postmsn
gave final look at a letter bearing a
stamp unfamiliar to him before he let
il drop into the box. Crowhurst was a
quiet place, and the postman was an
old inhabitant and as ne had very lit
tie else TO do Just then he wondered
who Miss MortOn's correspondent was.
Lucy had q headache and had not
come down vet. She had had a good
many headaches of late and had grown
pale and thin nor wGs she so ener-
getic as she used to be. But her aunt,
busily engaged in feeding her favorite
parrot. relinquished her task, as usual,
when she heard the familiar rat-tat.
"'Miss Lucy tMorton' one for
Lucy" said the spinster half aloud.
And another the long looked-for let
ter?" gasped Miss Lucilla, sinking
into a chair, and gazing with delight
full agitation at the postmark and adj
dress, Miss Lucilla Morton.
" Ny darling, she read aloud, as
size opened it-Miss Lucila's very
curls were bobbing with importance.
"My darlinG-may | venture to say
my darling az last? My dearest
little love. YOU know already how in
exprcssibly dear to me you are You
know how you have been in my
thoughts, how have longed week by
week and hour by hour TO write to you. "
How charmingly he writes A sweet
letter." ejaculuted Miss Morton, looking
for her handkerchief. MAY | have
the right TO call you, indeed, my dar-
ling, my own, and, before long, a
sweoter name still?" Miss Lucilla
was overcome for moment by maiden
" emotion then she took up the let
ter aeain-it was the first of the kind
she had ever recelved-and finished
reading it. She returned to the last
paragraph ands murmured the words
aloud.
&" You know / have loved you so
long would you have courage, my
child, to come out to me? for | cannot
leave 1t is really beautifully written ;
and how young he must have consider
ed | looked! Blue eyes and golden
hair" she murmured, glancing at the
mirror. "The type OF beauty and
he is dark-it will be pretty contrast.
DO not keep me in suspense, my
darling. If YOU knew how | lOnged
for YOU; how l think of your sweet
face every hour = Keep him in sus-
pense Why, of course | shall do
nothing Of the kind it would be too
cruel. too cruel !" said Miss Morton
agitatedly.
a letter, aunt Anything particu-
lar ?" Lucy asked, as she came in at
the open door. Her cheek had been
pale-far paler than Miss MortOn's S,
Notwithstanding that good lady's agi-
tation: but at sight OF the stamp on
an envelope lying on her aunt's lap
Lucv's paieness changed to crimson.
Anything particular ;" returned
Miss Lucilla, bridling. "Only decla-
ration Of love: another offer of mar
rage. Lucy, child, ] have heard from
Mr.. Wcstbrcok." she announced, un.
able to be anything but smiling ano
s,lf.lnpoltant ut this triumphant mo,
ment. and only too anxious to impar'
her news. "A charming letter really,
a sweet letter, and full OF protestation'
of devotion mentions how young he
always thought looked, and asks ii
have courage to come out to him. 81
You must make up your mind to par
with me, child heasks me not to keep
him IN suspense, and / shall sell the
house at once"
"To part with you? Mr.. West
brook, " said Lucy, family but she wa
unable to 60 on. Was it all an ap
! palling dream?
"He is too delicate to touch money
matters, of course: | think he will bt
agreeably surprised" said Miss Morton
complacently. II shall take DIR. Red
burns offer if he has told me once he
should like to take this house oil my
hands, he has done so fifty times anC
| shall turn everything into ready
money. / shall lose no time, for
don't approve of long engagements
AS TO you, my dear, Mr.. Westbrook-
dear me, how awkward, and yet how
extremely natural it seems to sa.
John does not make the faintest allu
sion to your living with us; he think
newly-married people, dare say, are
best alone so shall try TO leave yol
comfortably situated with your cousiI
Emily. Dear, dear me !" said Mis-
Morton, rising. 81 have a hundred
things to think of. John will meet me
and take me to his cousins; | am Il
stay with Mrs. Fairfax short time, AM
be married from there and he will b,
looking for house, of course, as sool
as he gets my answer. / must put oil
my things at once j want to know
when the next mail goes out. think,
Miss Lucilla added, with something
singularly like a shipper, as she pause,
for moment, TO arrange the straw
colored nnglets at the glass, "that
really ought not to be married in any
thing but white | am far too young
locking
PERPLExITY.
GOOD heavens, trust it's not m,
head /" said John Westbrook agitated
ly, as he paced up and down his room
holding perfumed rose-pink sheet o
paper IN his hand. He stopped ant
looked at il for the fiftieth time
|